Final: Royals 7, Red Sox 3

Darwinzon Hernandez allowed four runs in the seventh, turning what had been a tie game into a big lead for the Kansas City Royals in a 7-3 defeat of the Red Sox.

The Sox had battled back in the top of the seventh on a run-scoring single from Kevin Plawecki to pull even at 3-3.

But the first four hitters in the home half of the inning all reached and scored -- capped by a three-run homer by Salvador Perez -- against Hernandez, who was called up from Worcester earlier in the day.

The Sox had just six hits in their second straight loss, which dropped back under .500 for the season.

WHO: Red Sox (53-53) vs. Kansas City Royals (41-64)
WHEN: 8:10 p.m.
WHERE: Kauffman Stadium
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Nick Pivetta (8-8, 4.47) vs. LHP Kris Bubic (2-6, 5.45)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI-FM 93.7

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Davis RF
Pham LF
Devers 3B
Bogaerts SS
Martinez DH
Hosmer 1B
Arroyo 2B
Plawecki C
Duran CF

ROYALS

Melendez LF
Witt Jr. 3B
Perez C
Pasquantino DH
Dozier 1B
Massey 2B
Taylor CF
Eaton RF
Lopez SS